Cllr. Grace Williams

New research reveals that LBWF repeated its failings over Whitefield many times elsewhere, suggesting it has had a more general child safeguarding problem than previously ever admitted

August 7, 2026 child safeguarding, LCSPR, Whitefield 0

As hitherto reported (see links), the recent Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) of child abuse at Whitefield during 2014-17 concludes that (a) there were various problems with the pupils’ statutory education, health and care (EHC) plans; (b) some of the LBWF staff involved in the case lacked professional curiosity, and adopted the wrong focus; and (c) LBWF had worked with the other safeguarding agencies in a way which was ‘fragmented and lacked co-ordination’. The LCSPR provides no broader context for these failings, which is a pity, because a search through the relevant sources ... »

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‘How others see us’, an occasional series, No.2: The Londoner’s Andrew Kersley revisits the tragic death of Waltham Forest resident Tracey Turnell and eviscerates LBWF

June 1, 2026 Safeguarding 0

The Londoner has just published Andrew Kersley’s forensic investigation of the tragic death of Waltham Forest resident Tracey Turnell, the so called ‘body in the wheelchair’ case, here: https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/tracey-turnell-death-wheelchair-walthamstow/ It is well worth reading in full, particularly for those who still believe LBWF’s much repeated claim that it puts residents first in everything it does. Here’s a taste: ‘The findings in Tracey’s SAR [Safeguarding Adult Review] were written by an independent social care consultant, a former nurse and council worker, named Betty Lyn... »

LBWF’s promise to put ‘residents at the heart of everything we do’ yet again revealed to be a sham

March 17, 2026 Cllr. Grace Williams, Linzi Roberts-Egan

Renowned Waltham Forest campaigner James O’Rourke has appeared in posts on this blog before. He is a highly qualified expert, a Family and Friend Representative, Learning Disability England; an Independent Panellist for NHS England’s Care, Education and Treatment Review programme; and a Member of the Adult Social Care All Party Parliamentary Group. In addition, he spends a good deal of time looking out for his brother, who has a learning disability and resides in supported living accommodation, and in this latter role, he has regular contact with LBWF. An earlier post looked at ... »

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LBWF’s commitment to being transparent again in question as campaigner finds c.£500,000 unaccounted for in audit documents signed off by the council’s senior leadership

February 5, 2026 Cllr. Grace Williams, Freedom of Information Act, LBWF spin, Linzi Roberts-Egan, Local Government Transparency Code, Ombudsman

In recent years LBWF has repeatedly failed to uphold its responsibility to be open and transparent, even where this is required by the law. A few examples are illustrative (for further details see the links below). In 2020, the Information Commissioner’s Office took the almost unprecedented step of issuing LBWF with a Practice Recommendation because of its widespread non-compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. Four years later, LBWF was revealed to have blatantly ignored the mandatory requirements of the 2015 Local Government Transparency Code, legislation that was specifically designe... »

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LBWF’s new back office Oracle Fusion networking platform: management miracle or cash drain?

January 20, 2026 Cllr. Grace Williams, Cllr. Paul Douglas, LBWF spin, Linzi Roberts-Egan

In December 2021 LBWF decided to modernise its back office by installing a cloud based networking platform made by the leading American company Oracle (‘Big Red’). Subsequently, this innovation has been described as a management triumph, responsible for integrating ways of working across the Town Hall. However, as is often the case with LBWF, careful research reveals a more complicated picture, with successes, true, but also problems, the latter now requiring repeated amounts of additional cash. The story begins in 2003, the year that LBWF purchased a networking platform made by the German com... »

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The Iranian government’s brutal repression, and the tremors being felt (or not) in Waltham Forest

January 14, 2026 Cllr. Grace Williams, faith groups, Stella Creasy MP

In October 2024, I posted on the close relationship between Waltham Forest’s Great and Good and the local Faizan e Islam Educational and Cultural Trust (see link below). I noted that only a brief scrutiny of social media revealed that Walthamstow MP Dr. Stella Creasy, LBWF Leader Cllr. Grace Williams, and Leyton and Wanstead MP Calvin ‘I carried a knife when I was young’ Bailey had all visited Faizan, the first and second on multiple occasions; as had assorted Waltham Forest councillors, both Labour and Conservative; and as had the leadership of the borough’s police force (four times in 2... »

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STOP PRESS The police confirm their investigation of the Whitefield School child abuse scandal continues, which seemingly contradicts what Council Leader Grace Williams has told residents

June 27, 2025 child safeguarding, Whitefield

The Metropolitan Police Service [MPS] has just confirmed its investigation of the Whitefield School child abuse scandal is continuing. The facts are that in April 2024, the MPS was told that previously unknown offences of ‘perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office’ were alleged to have occurred in relation to Whitefield; and as a consequence, in November of the same year, it launched a formal investigation into these matters, which continues today. So what’s the link with Cllr. Williams? Well, on 27 November 2024, one day after the BBC’s Noel Titheradge had produced anot... »

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More on the Whitefield School child abuse scandal: two inquiries raise plenty of questions, but provide far fewer answers

April 15, 2025 child safeguarding, Whitefield

The Whitefield School scandal is without doubt the most shocking of any in Waltham Forest’s post-war history, involving as it does historic allegations that staff had subjected tens of children with learning difficulties and severe mental disorders to violent abuse (see links below). Thanks to three detailed reports by Noel Titheradge for the BBC, the first on 14 October 2021, the second two on 30 April and then 26 November 2024, much has become known about the sequence and character of the story. But, regrettably, there also are still gaps, instances where the truth is unclear, and this post ... »

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Private Eye covers the latest LBWF safeguarding scandal

February 19, 2025 Safeguarding

From Private Eye No.1643 21 February-6 March 2025. It’s good that PE highlights the witless response of Cllr. Mitchell. In another, more honourable time, many would have expected her to resign. »

The local Senior Coroner points the finger at LBWF as details emerge about yet another safeguarding scandal

February 7, 2025 Safeguarding

The tragic death of Tracey Turnell has been much covered in the media, and last week Senior East London Coroner Graeme Irving held an inquest to review the surrounding circumstances, which the Investigations Reporter of the East London and West Essex Guardian Series, Charles Thompson, diligently covered here https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/24904405.tracey-turnell-death-coroner-suggests-waltham-forest-discipline-staff/ and this is the source for much of the following. At the outset, Mr. Irvine called Ms. Turnell’s death ‘“horrifying”, and added ‘“It is a truly, truly appalling case”... »

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